Textile Minister opens Handicraft Fair

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SME Times News Bureau | 16 Oct, 2015
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Textiles, Santosh Kumar Gangwar inaugurates the 40th edition of IHGF- Delhi Fair Autumn 2015 - the world's largest fair of Indian handicrafts and Gifts Fair (IHGF) at India Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida on Wednesday.

The fair is being organized by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).

Vimla Batham, MLA, Gautam Budh Nagar, Dr. S.K. Panda, Secretary (Textiles), Ministry of Textiles, Rama Raman, Chairman- GNIDA and Alok Kumar, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) also graced the inaugural ceremony.

While inaugurating the 40thedition of IHGF-Delhi Fair Autumn, 2015, Gangwar said Handicrafts of India have distinct image and cannot be matched by the world and image of Indian handicrafts can be further promoted through this kind of fairs.

He further said that exporting community should innovate new products so that buyers who visit IHGF-Delhi fair should take the impression back with them that they cannot source these kinds of products from anywhere else.

India has a treasure of raw material, craftsmanship and ethnic tradition and systems, we have to reorient to bring innovation and newness. He applauded EPCH for adding newness to the fair by expanding area and constructing new halls.

He further said handicrafts sector is one of the largest and provides employment to more than 7 million artisans and craftspersons who are the backbone of this sector.Government and exporting community needs to work together for the promotion of this sector.

Dr. S.K. Panda, Secretary (Textiles) Ministry of Textiles congratulated the handicrafts sector for achieving reasonable growth. He said that handicrafts sector not only earns foreign exchange but also provides livelihood to large number of artisans. He urged the exporting community to look growth in an inclusive way and adopt villages so that the livelihood of the artisans who are backbone of the handicrafts sector can be improved.

Santosh Kuamar,Gangwar also released Directory of the Fair along with a book written by Dr. S.K Panda, Secretary Textiles on Promotion of Handicrafts for inclusive & sustainable development – Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas.

Rakesh Kumar, Chairman, India Expo Centre & Mart and Executive Director – EPCH while welcoming the chief guest and other dignitaries apprised everyone of IHGF-Delhi’sjourney over the last twenty one years and thanked the concerned authorities for all help in bringing such a large and exclusive state-of-the art exhibition centre which saw its available space expand by 40,000 sqm through construction of six purpose built halls of comparable to any other in the world. The highlight of the fair is setting up of theme pavilion of Garden and Garden Accessories, informed Kumar.

About 3000 buyers have been registered during first day of the show. Two seminars have also been organized today on Advantage of Doing Business in & with Yiwu, China and Social Media - Important tool to maximize presence & sales Social Media - Important tool to maximize presence & sales along with fashion shows.

IHGF-Delhi Fair Autumn 2015 is expected to generate huge amount of enquiries and orders, he added.